There is value in taking poetry to work, and finding the poetry that’s already there. Publications like Harvard Business Review and Fast Company are starting to write about the power of poetry—noting poetry’s effectiveness in building creative thinkers and problem solvers. Yet there is no single source to guide those who are at work every day, with little direction for how to explore the mindful power of poetry in the workplace. Poetry at Work is that guide. From discussions about how poetry is built into the very fabric of work, to practical suggestions on how to be a poet at work, this is a book that meets a very real need. Altogether—a landmark book that moves beyond David Whyte’s seminal book on poetry and the corporate world. More than just philosophy, this book brings the hope of mindful practice and surprising discovery, the benefits of stress relief and increased accomplishment.
What readers say
Glynn Young adds eloquently to the conversation enjoyed by Dana Gioia, David Whyte, and Clare Morgan. His unique vision of poetry in the workplace goes beyond any primer or workbook – this book is elemental. – Dave Malone, author of O: Love Poems from the Ozarks and View from the North Ten.
For a corporate writer or anyone who wants to bring meaning into their work, Poetry at Work is an oasis they’ll want to call home. – David Murray, editor of Vital Speeches of the Day.
We don’t give ourselves enough time for poetry—at work or at home. If we did, our business life might be less stressful and more satisfying. We might find our work more revealing. We might, as Young suggests, find the poetry at work. – Scott Edward Anderson, author of Fallow Field.
In Poetry at Work, Young relates how he first discovered poetry at work. He was at one of his regular weekly meetings, seated at the conference table, when he became aware of “a submerged conversation” that revealed certain elements of poetry: sounds, for example, and rhythms and imagery. As he continued to tune in, he writes, he also came to realize that “poetry shows up not only in a weekly meeting but in . . . the presentations we make, the spaces in which we work, and the successes and failures and challenges of work.” – Maureen Doallas, author of Neruda’s Memoirs: Poems.
Glynn Young’s words have me hearing poetry in every nook and cranny of my work place. And I like it. – Laura Boggess, author of Playdates with God.
Poetry at Work is an important book in a neglected area of human experience. Glynn Young is to be congratulated for his perceptiveness even in identifying the problem of the poetic deficit in business. His realization that significance is to be found even in the most apparently mundane aspects of work is evidence of serious reflection. – Jonathan Cook, reader.
